The piece 2010

Wer klopfet an

The search for a place to stay

When I came up with the program for this work around two years ago, the deportation of asylum seekers did not yet have such a shameful dimension as it does today – but the homeless people on K-Berg were already in the headlines at the time after a fire in a gaff. The search for a hostel today – the search for a hostel 2000 years ago and a new version of the old dialog song “Wer klopfet an” (Who knocks) were the starting points for the thematic considerations, which over time, especially in intensive collaboration with the composer Klemens Vereno, were condensed into a complete musical and scenic work and subsequently into a harmonious whole with our new stage director Veronika Pernthaner.

The search for shelter today, depicted with homeless people from K-Berg (who could also be in any other city) and a refugee family marked by fate, forms the prologue and hopefully also the memorable epilogue of this year’s work.

The act

When I came up with the program for this work around two years ago, the deportation of asylum seekers did not yet have such a shameful dimension as it does today – the In the scenic biblical plot, it seemed important to me to depict the seasonal actions more transparently, starting with shepherds in the field who have to contend with strange weather caprices on the Untersberg as early as February. The first scene of Mary and Joseph also takes place in spring. It continues with the Annunciation to Mary in March and develops into summer with the visit to Elisabeth. A harmonious autumn of expectation is followed by Mary and Joseph’s call to enrol at the beginning of winter – a long journey via Galilee, Samaria and Judea to Bethlehem, where they are unable to find shelter and are taken in by shepherds – in other words, an observation over a period of around 10 months.
In late fall, the shepherds in the fields once again experience eerie conditions similar to those in February of this year – the Untersberger Mandln are not going to haunt them or the dragon come out of the dragon hole. The animals can no longer be kept from the herdsmen – the same game on all three Untersberg mountain pastures – the Klingeralm, the Schwoagmühlalm and the Viererkaser. The mysticism and magic of the Untersberg, the now dilapidated but once large and rich Untersberg mountain pastures are the subject of this year’s Salzburg Shepherds’ Play for the first time, in which many new, young shepherds take part. The old Steyrer with the Pasch is of particular quality with amusing inclusions such as the melody of dear Augustin, even if not perfect, but played with childlike light-heartedness.

Elements of folk music

The folk music elements of the new work range from the incomparable music of Tobi Reiser, compositions and new pieces by Reinhold Schmid and Martin Fuchsberger to folk songs that fit the respective theme, such as the song “Roter Mohn”, in which Joseph’s longing for love, but also a foreshadowing of a bleeding, tearful love in the Passion can already be felt.

Klemens Vereno has written numerous new works, ranging from the impressive prologue to the search for a hostel today, the hostel seeker’s song “Wer klopfet an” in a completely new version, the Gloria incorporating the old shepherd’s song “A Liadl sung i a no gern” and much more. The texts to the compositions are also worth reading and delving into. This year, the breadth of the Grosses Festspielhaus will also gain musical “breadth” through the playing of trumpets and trombones from the side wings of the stage.

So there is much that is new about this year’s Advent Singing, and yet these are only cautious steps in the 64-year success story of the Salzburg Advent Singing.

Hans Köhl, General Director

Wer klopfet an 2010

Picture gallery

The piece 2010

Contributor

Solists

Simone Peßenteiner-Vierlinger (Sopran)

Bernhard Teufl (Tenor)

Magdalena Hinz (Sopran)

Ilse Grießenauer (Sopran)

Felix Reinhard Leitner (Bass)

Doktor: Andreas Winklhofer,
Bergfee: Veronika Pernthaner,
Petzi: Matthias Hochradl

Alban: Johann Winkler,
Luljeta: Sarah Pernthaner,
Manjola: Helene Wimmer

Peter Dominik Meisnitzer-Aster

Theresia Lena Rettensteiner

Stefan Andreas Rettensteiner

Salzburger Hirtenkinder

Vroni: Stefanie Engel (Klarinette),
Ruap: Manuel Engel (Bassgeige),
Lisi: Theresia Essl (Gitarre),
Seppi: Martin Grabner (Klarinette),
Lippei: Felix Grabner (Trompete),
Sarah: Stefanie Grießne (Pascherin),
Gretl: Carolin Hollweger (Pascherin),
Lena: Sarah Huber (Pascherin),
Peter: Dominik Meisnitzer-Aster (Harmonika),
Simmerl: Simon Nagl (Horn),
Berni: Lukas Perschl (Pascher),
Mizzi: Christina Rest (Oboe),
Thresl: Lena Rettensteiner (Hackbrett),
Steffi: Andreas Rettensteiner (Harmonika),
Hias: Simon Wimmer (Harmonika),
Maniola: Helene Wimmer (Pascherin),
Hansei: Tobias Wimmer (Pascher),
Wawi Magdalena Winkler (Klarinette)

Einstudierung, Betreuung

Markus Helminger, Kaspar Fischbacher, Stefan Gfrerer, Hildegard Stofferin, Birgit Lang, Albina Schwaiger, Gudrun Köhl-Korbuly

Choir

90 Sängerinnen und Sänger;
Einstudierung / Leitung: Burgi Vötterl

Vocalensembles

Sopran: Anna Bahngruber,
Mezzosopran: Christa Fuchsberger,
Alt: Anna Santner

1. Tenor: Sebastian Fuchsberger/Lukas Bahngruber,
2. Tenor: Hans Köhl, Bariton: Martin Fuchsberger,
Bass: Josef Fuchsberger

Orchestra

Gitarre: Reinhold Schmid,
Zither: Johannes Rohrer,
Hackbrett: Kerstin Schmid-Pleschonig,
Harfe: Stefanie Geierstanger,
Kontrabass: Max Schmid,
Orgelportativ: Barbara Schmelz

Flöte: Gundl Aggermann,
Geige: Burgi Vötterl,
Geige: Maria Dengg,
Viola: Andrea Brucker,
Cello: Sylvia Demgenski

Trompete, Flügelhorn, Lg: Horst Hofer;
Trompete, Flügelhorn: Gerhard Gergely;
Trompete, Flügelhorn: Zoran Curovic;
Posaune: Christian Winter;
Posaune: Thomas Höger;
Posaune: Erwin Wendl

Trompete: Ltg. Horst Hofer,
Trompete: Erik Kern,
Trompete: Zoran Curovic,
Posaune: Dusan Kranjc,
Posaune: Thomas Höger,
Posaune: Erwin Wendl,
Horn: Christian Sperl,
Horn: Andreas Stopfner

Oboe: Ltg. Gottfried Linsinger,
Fagott: Gerti Hollweger,
Klarinette: Anton Gmachl,
Klarinette/Bassklarinette: Stefan Promegger

Martin Grubinger

Technical Support, Equipment

Heinz Ilsanker, Werner Breitenfelder

Edwin Pfanzagl – Cardone,
Günther Harner, Bernhard Brunner

Joinery Alfred Laserer, Gosau